Baby Supporting Chair

ABSTRACT

A baby supporting chair ( 1 ) is provided that comprises a generally rigid outer support shell ( 2 ) of generally dome shape with a lower periphery ( 3 ) for supporting the chair ( 1 ), directly or indirectly, on a generally horizontal surface. The outer support shell ( 2 ) has, in plan view, a baby receiving zone in a central region for receiving at least a lower trunk of a baby, in use. At least one, and typically two, channels ( 5 ) extend from the central region for receiving, in use, the legs of a baby projecting outwards generally beyond an outer extremity of the outer support shell ( 2 ). A baby restraining member, typically in the form of a pillar, inhibits a baby from sliding out of the chair ( 1 ). A relatively flexible inner baby support member ( 7 ) is attached to the outer support member to provide a relatively flexible seat ( 11 ) portion, a backrest ( 12 ) portion, and sidewall ( 13 ) portions to the baby receiving zone.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a baby supporting chair and, moreparticularly, to a baby supporting chair that is aimed at supporting aninfant that has reached the stage of holding its own head up but has notyet reached a stage at which it can support itself in a stable sittingposition.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

It is well-known that babies pass through a stage of their developmentduring which they like to look around and observe their surroundings andsurrounding activities, but are not yet able to hold themselves up in asitting position. It has been common practice to prop up a baby withpillows or cushions in order to achieve this objective.

In more recent times, baby supporting chairs have become available thatserve to support an infant in a sitting position in a comfortablemanner. A popular type of such a chair of which applicant is aware isthat which is sold internationally under the trade name “BUMBO”. Thatchair is more fully described in international patent publication numberWO0065965.

However, the construction of those chairs inherently has, in applicant'sview, drawbacks in that there have been reported instances ofinstability of the chair leading to them toppling over consequent onmovement of a baby. This can be highly dangerous if the supporting chairis supported on an elevated surface. Indeed, these chairs have beenprovided with additional warnings that they should be used only on afloor and an with infant retaining harness or strap in order to preventan infant from climbing or falling out of the chair.

A competitive product in the market place is a moulded expandedpolypropylene two-part baby supporting chair having a seat part and atray part that fit together for storage or use; in the latter instancethe two parts are assembled with a baby inside the seat. The difficultywith such a seat is that the material is rather rigid and a babytogether with its apparel must yield to conform to the shape of thechair. Such baby supporting chairs are sold under the trade name “CushiTush”.

Conventional baby seating systems such the “high chair” and the like arerigid and uncomfortable and may not provide sufficient lateral support.

Applicant has, in consequence, developed an baby supporting chair thatprovides a good level of support and is comfortable whilst alleviatingor avoiding one or more difficulties experienced with prior art babysupporting chairs of which applicant is aware.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention there is provided a baby supportingchair comprising a generally rigid outer support shell of generally domeshape with a lower periphery for supporting the chair, directly orindirectly, on a generally horizontal surface and wherein the outersupport shell has, in plan view, a baby receiving zone in a centralregion of the outer support shell for receiving at least a lower trunkof a baby, in use, and at least one channel extending from the centralregion for receiving, in use, the legs of a baby projecting outwards,optionally beyond an outer extremity of the outer support shell, with ababy restraining member associated with the chair for inhibiting a babyfrom sliding into the at least one channel, and a relatively flexibleinner baby support member attached to the outer support member toprovide a relatively flexible seat portion, a backrest portion, andsidewall portions to the baby receiving zone that communicates with theat least one channel.

Further features of the invention provide for there to be a pair ofchannels extending from the central region for receiving, in use, thelegs of a baby with the baby restraining member being in the form of apillar formation separating the two channels; for the generally rigidouter support shell to be made of an injection moulded thermoplasticmaterial such as a suitable polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadienestyrene, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutyleneterephthalate, or polyvinyl chloride; for the plastics material of theouter support shell to have a wall thickness of from 1.5 to 5 mm,preferably from 2 to 3 mm; for the inner relatively flexible babysupport member to be made of an injection moulded elastomer such as asuitable thermoplastic polyurethane, ethylene propylene diene monomer,or silicone rubber; and for the plastics material of the inner babysupport member to have a shore hardness (A-inst) of between 30 and 60and preferably about 35-45 with a wall thickness of from 0.05 to 4 mm,preferably from 0.75 to 2 mm and a tensile strength at break (psi/(MPa))of from 1200 to 1600, and preferably 1300 to 1400.

Still further features of the invention provide for the inner babysupport member to have an edge region that is over-moulded onto theouter support shell to form a bi-material assembly extending around theperiphery of the baby receiving zone with a bond between the two plasticmaterials being formed as a laminar mechanical bond that may have itsorigins at least partially in a thermal differential between thetemperature of the over-moulded material during its moulding, and/or amechanical bond that includes keying formations such as perforations,protrusions or recesses on the outer support shell, a bond that includesat least some chemical bonding to the outer support shell, an adhesivebond and any combination of the foresaid; for the outer support memberto have an inwardly lipped periphery to selected regions of the babyreceiving zone in order to provide a continuous attachment surfacesurrounding the baby receiving zone onto which the over-moulded materialis moulded; and for the flange to merge with sidewalls to the channelsand the bottom of the pillar to form the substantially continuoussurface onto which an edge of the inner baby support member isover-moulded.

Yet further features of the invention provide for the lower periphery ofthe outer support shell to be generally circular; for the lowerperiphery to be provided with a circumferential enlarged rib or a seriesof formations extending around the periphery and cooperating withco-operating formations on a stiffening ring configured to maintain asubstantially fixed circular shape to the lower periphery of the outersupport shell, or both; for the under surface of the channels of theouter support shell to have optionally integral legs extending downwardsso as to form additional support for the outer support shell in theregion of the channels; and for the legs to have suction cups or thelike permanently or removably attached thereto.

Additional features of the invention provide for the pillar formation tohave formations in an upper region thereof for releasably receivingco-operating formations on a removable tray that spans gaps between thepillar and adjacent upper ends of the two channels; for the formationson the pillar and tray to cooperate in a clipping relationship with theclip being releasable only from a front of the tray, preferably by arelease mechanism substantially inoperable by a baby occupying the babyseat; for the formations on the pillar to be adapted to cooperate withco-operating formations on a selection of different activity items thatcan be selected according to a user's desires or requirements from itemssuch as movable handles, a steering wheel, an electronic gadget thatcould resemble a computer, an electronic game of some sort or a musicplaying device; and for the outer support shell together with the innerbaby support member to be stackable (generally with any tray removedfrom the pillar formation) for transport, storage and display purposes.

Preferably the outer support shell has handles or cut-outs in the lowerperiphery that serve as handles whereby the baby supporting chair can belifted with a baby in it. Also, the diameter of the lower periphery ofthe outer support shell is selected to provide required stability of thebaby supporting chair, in use.

The inner baby support member may be configured such that the seatbottoms out onto a supporting surface if a baby weighs more than aparticular amount. In the alternative, a bean bag type of “cushion” maybe provided on the underside of the seat so that the seat can deformaccording to the shape of a baby sitting in the baby seat.

The inner baby support member is preferably configured so that it flexesaccording to the shape and size of a baby supported by it.

In order that the above and other features of the invention may be morefully understood one embodiment thereof will now be described withreference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:—

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of one embodiment of baby supporting chairaccording to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation thereof;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation thereof;

FIG. 4 is a plan view thereof;

FIG. 5 is a three-dimensional view taken from the top toward one side ofthe baby supporting chair;

FIG. 6 is a three-dimensional view taken from the bottom toward one sideof the baby supporting chair with the removable tray and stiffening ringremoved;

FIG. 7 is a sectioned three-dimensional view taken from the top towardone side of the baby supporting chair along line VII-VII in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a cross-section taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a three-dimensional view taken from underneath and the rear ofone variation of the baby supporting chair fitted with suction cupssuitable for enabling the chair to be used as a bathing chair; and,

FIG. 10 is a three-dimensional view of a suction cup on its own.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, a babysupporting chair (1) comprises a generally rigid outer support shell (2)of generally dome shape with a circular lower periphery (3) forsupporting the chair on a generally horizontal surface. The circularlower periphery has a diameter selected to provide suitable stability tothe baby supporting chair and in this instance the diameter is about 400mm.

A baby receiving zone is provided for receiving at least a lower trunkof a baby in a central region of the outer support shell, in use, and apair of deep channels (5) extends from the central baby receiving zonefor accommodating or receiving, in use, outwardly projecting legs of ababy. The legs, especially the feet, would typically extend beyond theouter extremity of the outer support shell. A pillar formation (6)separates the two channels and forms a baby restraining member asdefined above.

A relatively flexible inner baby support member (7) is attached to aperipheral region of the outer support member that encircles the babyreceiving zone to provide a flexible seat (11), a backrest (12) andsidewalls (13). A major portion of the backrest is flexible with anupper portion being rigid where the flexible material of the babysupport member overlaps the relatively rigid material of the outersupport member. The sidewalls (13) are flexible apart from upper andforward regions where the flexible material of the baby support memberoverlaps the relatively rigid material of the outer support member. Theflexible inner baby support member (7) also communicates with, andoverlaps, a portion of the deep channels where it is likewise rigid.

The generally rigid outer support shell is made of an injection mouldedthermoplastic material that in this instance is a suitable polypropylenematerial having a thickness of about 2-3 mm.

The generally rigid outer support is shaped to provide armrestformations (14) on each side of the central baby receiving zone.

The lower periphery of the outer support shell is generally circular andhas a circumferentially extending enlarged rib (15) that cooperates withco-operating clipping formations (16) on a floor engaging stiffeningring (17) configured to maintain a substantially fixed circular shape tothe lower periphery of the outer support shell. The stiffening ringresists buckling of the dome in case a baby kicks or moves quickly witha jerky movement. Two diametrically opposite cut-outs (18) in the loweredge of the sides of the outer support shell serve as handles wherebythe baby supporting seat can be lifted with a baby in it.

As shown particularly in FIGS. 5 to 8, the outer support member has, inthe region of the backrest and sidewalls, an inwardly lipped periphery(20) to the baby receiving zone where the flexible material of the babysupport member overlaps the relatively rigid material of the outersupport member by being over-moulded onto it. This is arranged toprovide a substantially continuous attachment surface surrounding thebaby receiving zone and merging with the inner ends of the bottom andsidewalls (22) of the channels (5) and the lower part (23) of the pillar(6).

The overlap of the two materials in the backrest region passes over theentire area of the inwardly and downwardly directed lip (20) and ontothe outer surface of the backrest. In the case of the armrests, theover-moulded edge region extends up the downwardly directed lip (20),over the armrests and a short distance onto the outer surface of theouter support member. The overlap continues down the height of thesidewalls to the channels and extends into the inner end regions of thechannels and up the lower region of the pillar formation. The extent ofthe overlap may therefore vary around the periphery of the babyreceiving zone with the overlap being sufficient to ensure satisfactoryrobustness and strength of the assembly.

The width of the inwardly lipped periphery (20) as well as the width ofthe other attachment areas such as between the flexible baby supportmember and relatively rigid outer support member in the region of thelower part of the pillar formation and the inner end regions of the pairof channels, may depend on the characteristics of the attachment of thematerial of the relatively flexible baby support member to therelatively rigid outer support member. At the present time the width ofthe overlap is preferably within the range of 20 to 50 mm. If required,the attachment may be assisted by one or more mechanical formations suchas a large squat central protrusion that constitutes a keying formation(24) on the outside of the upper region of the backrest (see FIGS. 2 to4).

The inner relatively flexible baby support member is an injectionmoulded elastomer material such as a suitable thermoplastic polyurethanethat is over-moulded onto the outer support member so as to contactpredetermined portions of the outer surface of the latter and form amechanically bonded edge region of a bi-material assembly extendingaround the periphery of the baby receiving zone. The bond in thisinstance is primarily a laminar mechanical bond that may have at least apart of its origins in the thermal differential during moulding of thematerial of the flexible baby support member onto the previously mouldedouter support member.

In this instance the plastics material of the inner baby support memberhas a thickness of about 0.75 to 2 mm; a shore hardness of about 35; anda tensile strength of about 1300. The inner support member issufficiently flexible so that it can flex to accommodate differentshapes and sizes of baby rather than the baby or its apparel having toadjust to a fixed size and shape of baby support member.

As shown most clearly in FIG. 7, the pillar formation (6) has catches(26) in on a top thereof for releasably receiving co-operatingformations in the form of latches (27) on the underside of a removabletray (28) that, in its installed position, spans gaps between the upperregion of the pillar and the adjacent upper edges (29) of the twochannels in a forward region of the armrests. The catches on the pillarand the latches on the tray cooperate in a clipping relationship withthe catches being releasable only from the front of the tray by a pushtype of release mechanism (31) that is substantially inoperable by ababy occupying the baby supporting seat. The presence of the trayprevents, or at least inhibits, a baby from climbing out of the babysupporting chair.

The formations on the pillar are suitable for cooperation, in thealternative, with substantially identical latches on a cover (32) (seeFIG. 5) that is adapted to simply cover the upper end of the pillarformation if the tray is not required for use.

The formations on the pillar are also suitable for cooperation withco-operating formations on a selection of different activity items (notillustrated) that can be manufactured according to desires orrequirements. Such activity items may include movable handles, asteering wheel, an electronic gadget that could resemble a computer, anelectronic game of some sort or a music playing device.

Of course, the pillar itself is not essential to the invention and itmay be replaced by any other suitable baby restraining member such as atransverse bar bridging a single channel or a suitable harness forrestraining a baby within the baby receiving zone.

It is to be mentioned that a pair of integral legs (33) may extenddownwards from the under surface of the channels of the outer supportshell (see especially FIG. 6) so as to form additional support for theouter support shell in the region of the channels. The legs aredimensioned so that they approximately touch a supporting surface onwhich the baby chair is located.

In one instance, such legs could serve as additional support in theevent that the outer support member is not sufficiently rigid to preventthe channels (5) from flexing downwards to an undesirable extent duringuse.

In another instance and as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, such legscould be used as attachments for suction cups (34) that can serve as asecuring mechanism for holding the baby supporting chair on the bottomof a bath, for example, so that the baby supporting chair can serve alsoas a bathing chair. The suction cups may each have an integral axiallyextending socket (35) that can engage a leg appropriately.

In the embodiment of the invention described above, the outer supportshell together with the inner baby support member is stackable fortransport and storage purposes with the tray or other activity itemremoved from the pillar formation.

The inner baby support member may be configured such that the seatbottoms out onto a supporting surface if a baby weighs more than aparticular amount. In the alternative, a bean bag type of “cushion” maybe provided on the underside of the seat so that the seat can deformaccording to the shape of a baby sitting in the baby seat.

From a manufacturing perspective, the outer support member, tray andstiffening ring can all be made in a one step moulding. The outersupport member can then be inserted into a second mould for the overmoulding of the elastomer of the inner baby support member onto theouter support member. Following the over moulding the stiffening ringcan be installed on the lower periphery of the outer support member and,if required, the tray can be installed in its operative position.

The baby supporting chair according to this invention therefore hasenhanced stability consequent on the relatively rigid outer shell andits generally rigid lower support periphery, whether or not it hasassociated with it a separate stiffening ring. The inner flexible babysupport member that adapts more readily to the shape and size of aparticular baby receives a baby more comfortably than a more rigidconstruction.

In at least the optional but preferred arrangement, the ability of theinner flexible baby support member to bottom out onto a supportingsurface, either directly or by way of a cushion typically in the form ofa bean bag, further enhances the performance of the baby supportingchair.

It will be understood that numerous variations may be made to theembodiment of the invention described above without departing from thescope thereof.

1. A baby supporting chair comprising a generally rigid outer supportshell of generally dome shape with a lower periphery for supporting thechair, directly or indirectly, on a generally horizontal surface andwherein the outer support shell has, in plan view, a baby receiving zonein a central region of the outer support shell for receiving at least alower trunk of a baby, in use, and at least one channel extending fromthe central region for receiving, in use, the legs of a baby projectingoutwards, optionally beyond an outer extremity of the outer supportshell, with a baby restraining member associated with the chair forinhibiting a baby from sliding into the at least one channel, whereinthe outer support shell is made of injection moulded thermoplasticmaterial and wherein a relatively flexible inner baby support membermade of an injection moulded elastomer is attached to the outer supportmember to provide a relatively flexible seat portion, a backrestportion, and sidewall portions to the baby receiving zone thatcommunicates with the at least one channel, wherein the inner babysupport member has an edge region that is attached to the moulded outersupport shell by a bond selected from a mechanical bond; a chemicalbond; an adhesive bond; and any combination thereof.
 2. A babysupporting chair as claimed in claim 1 in which there is a pair ofchannels extending from the central region for receiving, in use, thelegs of a baby with the baby restraining member being in the form of apillar formation separating the two channels.
 3. A baby supporting chairas claimed in claim 1 in which the generally rigid outer support shellis made of an injection moulded thermoplastic material having a wallthickness of from 1.5 to 5 mm.
 4. (canceled)
 5. A baby supporting chairas claimed in claim 1 in which the material of the inner baby supportmember has a shore A hardness of between 30 and 60 with a wall thicknessof from 0.05 to 4 mm, and a tensile strength at break of from 1200 to1600 psi/MPa.
 6. A baby supporting chair as claimed in claim 1 in whichthe inner baby support member has an edge region that is over-mouldedonto a moulded outer support shell to form a bi-material assemblyextending around the periphery of the baby receiving zone with a bondbetween the two moulded materials being selected from a laminarmechanical bond having its origins at least partially in a thermaldifferential between the temperature of the over-moulded material duringits moulding and that of the outer support shell; a mechanical bond thatincludes keying formations selected from perforations, protrusions andrecesses on the outer support shell; a bond that includes at least somechemical bonding to the outer support shell, an adhesive bond; and anycombination of the foresaid.
 7. A baby supporting chair as claimed inclaim 6 in which the outer support member has an inwardly lippedperiphery to selected regions of the baby receiving zone in order toprovide a continuous attachment surface surrounding the baby receivingzone in which the material of the inner baby support member overlaps thematerial of the outer support shell that includes regions of thesidewalls to the channels and the bottom of the pillar onto which anedge of the inner baby support member is over-moulded.
 8. A babysupporting chair as claimed in claim 1 in which the under surface of thechannels of the outer support shell have integral legs extendingdownwards so as to form additional support for the outer support shellin the region of the channels.
 9. A baby supporting chair as claimed inclaim 8 in which suction cups are attached to the integral legs.
 10. Ababy supporting chair as claimed in claim 1 in which the lower peripheryof the outer support shell is generally circular.
 11. A baby supportingchair as claimed in claim 1 in which the lower periphery of the outersupport shell is generally circular and is provided with acircumferential enlarged rib or a series of formations extending aroundthe periphery and cooperating with co-operating formations on astiffening ring configured to maintain a substantially fixed circularshape to the lower periphery of the outer support shell, or both.
 12. Ababy supporting chair as claimed in claim 2 in which the pillarformation has formations in an upper region thereof for releasablyreceiving co-operating formations on a removable tray that spans gapsbetween the pillar and adjacent upper ends of the two channels.
 13. Ababy supporting chair as claimed in claim 12 in which the formations onthe pillar and tray cooperate in a clipping relationship with a clipbeing releasable only from a front of the tray by a release mechanismthat is substantially inoperable by a baby occupying the baby seat. 14.A baby supporting chair as claimed in claim 1 in which the outer supportshell together with the inner baby support member are stackable fortransport, storage and display purposes.
 15. A baby supporting chair asclaimed in claim 1 in which the outer support shell has handles, orcut-outs in the lower periphery that serve as handles, whereby the babysupporting chair can be lifted with a baby in it.